Canada to appeal 11 year sentence for Michael Spavor on Spy charges
Background: in 2018, CanadiansMichael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were arrested after Chinese tech executive Meng Wanzhou was detained in Canada on a US extradition request.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, issued the following statement on the verdict of Michael Spavor:
“China’s conviction and sentencing of Michael Spavor is absolutely unacceptable and unjust.
“The verdict for Mr. Spavor comes after more than two and a half years of arbitrary detention, a lack of transparency in the legal process, and a trial that did not satisfy even the minimum standards required by international law.
“For Mr. Spavor, as well as for Michael Kovrig who has also been arbitrarily detained, our top priority remains securing their immediate release. We will continue working around the clock to bring them home as soon as possible.
“Our thoughts, and the thoughts of all Canadians, are with Mr. Spavor and his loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. The Government of Canada continues to provide consular assistance to Mr. Spavor and his family as we work to secure his safe return.
“I want to thank Canada’s many partners, friends, and allies for their solidarity and support for the release of Mr. Spavor and Mr. Kovrig, and their opposition to the practice of arbitrary detention. We will not rest until they are safely brought home.”
Statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs on Michael Spavor verdict
From: Global Affairs Canada
Statement
August 11, 2021 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement:
“Canada condemns China’s conviction and sentencing of Michael Spavor in the strongest possible terms. This decision is rendered after a legal process that lacked both fairness and transparency, including a trial that did not satisfy the minimum standards required by international law.
“We have maintained for more than 2 and a half years that the detentions of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig are completely arbitrary.
“These concerns have been echoed by many other countries who continue to voice their support for these Canadians.
“Canada is grateful to the many countries that have joined the call for the release of Canadian citizens arbitrarily detained in China.
“The thoughts of all Canadians are with Michael Spavor and his family following his unjust conviction and ongoing arbitrary detention. Canada continues to explore all avenues to secure Mr. Spavor’s release. Securing his release, as well as that of Michael Kovrig, remains our top priority.”
Sentencing of Canadian Citizen Michael Spavor. Sec State Blinken
We stand with the international community in calling for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to release, immediately and unconditionally, Canadian citizens Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig. We continue to condemn these arbitrary detentions as well as the sentence imposed against Mr. Spavor on August 10. Mr. Spavor and Mr. Kovrig have not received the minimal procedural protections during their more than two-and-a-half-year arbitrary detention, and we stand with more than 60 countries who endorsed the recent Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations.
In my discussions with PRC officials, I have raised several cases of both U.S. and Canadian citizens subject to arbitrary detentions and exit bans in China, and I strongly support the immediate and unconditional release of all those whom the People’s Republic of China has arbitrarily detained. The practice of arbitrarily detaining individuals to exercise leverage over foreign governments is completely unacceptable. People should never be used as bargaining chips.
The United States also remains deeply troubled by the lack of transparency surrounding these legal proceedings and joins Canada in calling for full consular access to Mr. Spavor and Mr. Kovrig, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the China-Canada Consular Agreement. We call upon PRC authorities to grant the requests of Canadian officials and other foreign diplomats to attend their proceedings.